The collection plate is changing. Fewer people carry cash, yet the moment of giving during a service still matters, so churches are reaching for a digital version of the plate that is passed along the pews. At the same time, many churches mount a fixed donation point by the door. Both work, and plenty of churches use both. This guide compares the pass around digital collection plate with the fixed donation kiosk so you can decide which suits your building, your services and your budget.
A digital collection plate is a small contactless device handed up and down the rows during the offertory, in place of, or alongside, the traditional plate or bag. A fixed donation kiosk is a permanent point near the entrance or exit that donors use as they come and go. The difference is not the technology, which is much the same, but the moment it captures.
What the two formats have in common
Whichever you choose, the donor taps a card or phone, picks an amount on screen, and the gift is recorded. With Give A Little running on the device, a Gift Aid declaration can be added on screen, which lifts an eligible gift by 25 percent at no cost to the giver. Payment runs through Stripe, settling to the church or PCC account you already bank with. Neither format asks volunteers to count coins or handle cash, and neither stores card details, because the device is locked down and PCI DSS compliant. So the choice is about where and when, not about safety or admin.
The case for the digital collection plate
The plate captures the offertory moment itself, the point in the service when giving is an act of worship rather than an afterthought. Passing a device along the pew keeps that rhythm, and it reaches people who would have put a coin in the bag but no longer carry one. It also suits concerts, weddings, funerals and christenings, where visitors who do not normally attend are moved to give there and then.
The trade off is that a pass around device needs a hand to carry it and a moment in the service, and it collects only while it is being passed. Outside that window it sits in a drawer. For a congregation that gives mostly during the offertory, that is exactly right. For a building with visitors all week, it leaves income on the table.
The case for the fixed donation kiosk
A fixed kiosk works whenever the building is open. Tourists, mourners at a midweek funeral, parents at a toddler group and visitors lighting a candle can all give without anyone asking them to. It is always there, always on message, and needs no volunteer once it is set up. For cathedrals and town centre churches with real footfall, a fixed point often raises more over a month than the Sunday plate alone, simply because it is collecting for far more hours.
The trade off is that it does not travel down the pew, so it misses the offertory unless you also pass something around. That is why so many churches run both: a fixed point for the week, and a pass around device for the service.
Matching the format to your church
DonorDynamics offers formats for each role. For a pass around device, the compact CharityTab is light enough to move along a row and back. For a fixed point, the CharityDesk sits on the welcome desk, the CharityPole stands by the entrance and wheels to the hall when needed, and the CharityStand anchors a busy foyer or cathedral entrance. All are a one time purchase from 399 pounds, run Give A Little out of the box, and are managed remotely, so you can change the cause on screen for Harvest, Christmas or a roof appeal without touching the device. Note that Give A Little campaigns are switched on and off by you whenever you choose, so there are no fixed start or end dates to manage.
For the wider picture of fixed points, see what a giving station is, and to understand the Gift Aid side in detail, read whether charities can claim Gift Aid on contactless donations. The churches page lays out the full range for places of worship.
So which should you buy?
If your giving happens mostly during the service, start with a pass around device. If your building draws visitors through the week, start with a fixed point. If both are true, and for many churches they are, a fixed kiosk for the week and a pass around device for the offertory will capture the most. Either way, you are meeting people where they already are, card in hand rather than coin in pocket.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital collection plate? It is a small contactless device passed along the pews during the offertory so people can give by tapping a card or phone, instead of placing cash in a traditional plate or bag.
Is a digital collection plate better than a fixed donation kiosk? Neither is better outright. A plate captures the offertory moment, while a fixed kiosk collects whenever the building is open. Many churches use both for that reason.
Can a digital collection plate claim Gift Aid? Yes. With Give A Little on the device, donors can add a Gift Aid declaration on screen, so eligible gifts are worth 25 percent more at no cost to the donor.
How much does a digital collection device cost? DonorDynamics devices are a one time purchase from 399 pounds, with no subscription to us. Give A Little applies a platform fee and Stripe charges its standard rate.